Feb. 7, 2008
Final Stats
Contact: Greg Murphy
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Cleveland State defeated Milwaukee, 68-58 in a league game Thursday evening at the Wolstein Center. The Vikings have now won six games in a row for the first time since the 1983-84 season.
With the win, the Vikings solidify their hold on second place in the Horizon League, moving to 14-7 (8-2 HL) while the Panthers drop to 11-10 (6-4 HL).
The Vikings are one game behind league leader Green Bay, who improved to 17-4 (9-1 HL) following a 75-47 steamrolling of Youngstown State. Cleveland State hosts Green Bay this Saturday, Feb. 9 in a game to determine the first place team in the league.
Cleveland State managed a win despite shooting only 37.7% (23-for-61) from the field and 25% (6-for-24) from three-point range. However, the Vikings managed to keep their turnovers down with nine turnovers compared to 13 for the Panthers.
We didn't play our best basketball tonight and had trouble shooting the ball," head coach Kate Peterson-Abiad said, "But when you're playing well, you start winning games like this."
The Vikings sought to get the game started well right from the opening tip-off. They took the ball to their end of the floor for a Robyn Hoying 3-pointer within the first 10 seconds of the game.
This lead-taking basket would prove to be the only time that the lead would change in the first stanza. The Vikings kept a steady effort up throughout the first half which led to the team going into the locker room with a 36-27 lead.
The first half was a mostly even affair in most statistical categories. Both teams had 33 shots attempted, but CSU was able to hold the lead based upon their ability to put the ball in the basket (15 FGs by CSU to 11 by Milwaukee). Also notable was the fact that the Vikings were out-rebounded 23-18 by the Panthers but still managed to go into the locker room with the lead.
Standouts for the first half included Dominique Butler, who led all scorers with 12 points on 6-for-9 shooting, to go with two steals. Reigning Horizon League player of the week Kailey Klein added eight points (3-for-8 shooting) and four assists.
The second half would prove to be more of a battle than the first. The Panthers went on a 19-9 run to take the lead for the first time at the 12:18 mark on a lay-up by Maurika Hickman, 46-45.
The Vikings would battle back quickly to take their lead back at the 9:49 mark, as a Kailey Klein three-pointer made the score 50-47. After the Vikings fell behind 46-45 at the 12:18 mark, the team went on an 11-2 run to taking the lead and creating some breathing room in the scoring column. At that point, the score was 57-49 with 4:49 remaining in the game.
Milwaukee was able to pull within two, 58-56, at the 1:41 mark following a three-pointer by the Panthers' Maurika Hickman, but the Vikings closed out the game on a 10-2 run on the strength of eight straight made free throws.
"I am proud of the effort we had tonight, overall. We found a way to win this game, and I think the key was hitting our free throws and only turning the ball over nine times," Peterson-Abiad said.
Kailey Klein led the Vikings with 18 points on 7-for-16 shooting (1-for-5 three-pointers, 3-for-3 free throws) along with six assists. Robyn Hoying, Brittany Korth, and Stephanie Crosley each contributed seven rebounds, while Dominique Butler added 16 points (8-for-15 shooting).
Maurika Hickman led the Panthers in their losing effort, leading all game scorers with 22 points on 8-for-16 shooting, including a game-high 5-for-9 from three-point range.
"Our team has come a long way and is really stepping up each game," Peterson-Abiad said, "We have confidence in each other on the court at all times. We have a group of people who can make plays when the game is on the line."
The second place Vikings continue their current home stand on Saturday, Feb. 9 against first place Green Bay. The game will begin at 1:00 p.m. EST at the Wolstein Center.
